Technical Program Manager (Aircraft)

TalentHound; Byron (CA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

TalentHound seeks an experienced Technical Program Manager to lead the build, integration, and delivery of autonomous drone/aircraft programs. You will coordinate across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain to keep complex hardware and software on schedule, within scope, and compliant with aerospace standards.

Ideal candidates blend technical fluency with strong organizational and communication skills in a fast‑growth startup environment and will work on-site in California with frequent

Qualifications

• 10+ years of technical program management experience delivering complex hardware, software, or integrated electro-mechanical systems in aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering programs through the full product lifecycle, from concept development through flight testing and production.
• Strong technical knowledge spanning hardware engineering, software development, systems engineering, and flight test operations.
• Proficiency with program management tools and methodologies, such as Jira, Confluence, MS Project, and Smartsheet.

Responsibilities

• Prototype Build and Integration: lead the build, initial power-up, and full-system integration including all powertrain components; coordinate hardware/software tuning and reduce risk for flight testing.
• Program Planning and Execution: develop and maintain an integrated master schedule spanning hardware, software, and systems engineering; drive milestones for flight tests and certification.
• Risk and Dependency Management: identify critical path risks, cross-team dependencies, and bottlenecks; facilitate trade studies and risk mitigation planning.
• Engineering and Manufacturing Coordination: align with Mechanical, Electrical, Flight Controls, Software, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams for a seamless prototype-to-flight-test-to-production flow.
• Stakeholder Communication: lead program reviews and executive reporting on schedule, issues, and risk metrics to leadership and partners.
• Process Development: establish scalable PM practices with requirements tracking, change controls, and dashboards while preserving startup agility.
• Regulatory and Quality Compliance: align milestones with FAA and military certification pathways and ensure compliance with AS9100, DO-178C, DO-254, ITAR/EAR.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder communication

Regulatory compliance

Risk management

Analytical/problem solving

Education

Bachelor's or Master's in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems) or Computer Science

Tools

Jira

Confluence

MS Project

Smartsheet

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Technical Program Manager (TPM) to lead the build, integration, and delivery of our client: an autonomous drone/aircraft company. In this role, you will serve as the central point of coordination across engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams, ensuring that complex hardware and software programs progress on schedule, within scope, and in compliance with aerospace safety and regulatory standards.

This position is ideal for a program leader who combines strong technical fluency with exceptional organizational and communication skills, and who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth startup environment.

Work Schedule

• Build, assembly, and integration phases: On-site up to 4–5 days per week, working directly with engineering and production teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Prototype Build and Integration: Serve as the primary program owner for the build, initial power-up, and full-system integration including all powertrain components. Coordinate hardware and software tuning and reduce technical risk in preparation for flight testing.
• Program Planning and Execution: Develop and maintain an integrated master schedule spanning hardware, software, and systems engineering workstreams. Drive the organization toward ambitious flight test and certification milestones.
• Risk and Dependency Management: Proactively identify critical path risks, cross-team dependencies, and technical bottlenecks. Facilitate trade studies, risk mitigation planning, and alignment on system architecture.
• Engineering and Manufacturing Coordination: Partner closely with Mechanical, Electrical, Flight Controls, Software, Manufacturing, and Supply Chain teams to ensure a seamless transition from prototype to flight test to production.
• Stakeholder Communication: Lead program reviews and planning sessions, and deliver clear executive reporting on schedule status, issue resolution, and risk metrics to leadership, external partners, and customers.
• Process Development: Establish scalable program management practices, including requirements tracking, change management controls, and reporting dashboards that preserve startup agility while meeting aerospace safety expectations.
• Regulatory and Quality Compliance: Align program milestones with FAA and military airworthiness certification pathways, and ensure adherence to industry quality and compliance standards, including AS9100, DO-178C, DO-254, and ITAR/EAR export regulations.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of technical program management experience delivering complex hardware, software, or integrated electro-mechanical systems in aerospace, defense, robotics, automotive, or autonomous systems.
• Demonstrated success leading multidisciplinary engineering programs through the full product lifecycle, from concept development through flight testing and production.
• Strong technical knowledge spanning hardware engineering, software development, systems engineering, and flight test operations.
• Proficiency with program management tools and methodologies, such as Jira, Confluence, MS Project, and Smartsheet.
• Proven ability to influence without direct authority, lead cross-functional teams, and build consensus in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and risk management skills, with a metrics-driven approach to tracking progress.
• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Engineering (Aerospace, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems) or Computer Science, or a related technical field.
• A resourceful, solutions-oriented mindset and the ability to build lean, effective processes in unstructured environments.